CO2 monitors are shared, there aren't enough for each classroom, which Norma likes to ignore. They do nothing to purify the air. They are essentially like smoke alarms, warn you of a situation but don't do anything to fix it. Up to a few days ago, it was unseasonably warm, expect lots of cold students from now on, even with their coats on in class.
Why doesn't Norma just supply every classroom (special ed. classrooms included) with HEPA filters? There are 7 teachers out in one local school, 9 in another. There are NO subs to be had. And the biggest joke of all, an inspector was to call to the school with 7 teachers out today.
Yes call your gp. They can get slots. And do the antigen test anyway.
If it was me, I would do the Antigen Test anyway. See the result of that.
I would also phone your GP as I heard on the radio that a certain percentage of appointments are reserved for GP referrals.
Have you tried for a test via your GP? Think they get an allocation to register per day. Worth refreshing the page too, cancellations do pop up every few minutes, but you have to be lightning fast!
My son (11 yrs, 5th class) has been sent home because of a headache and sore throat. His temperature is normal. I can't get a PCR test anywhere (even tried neighbouring counties!). What are we supposed to do now? (I might add, there's not a loss on him!!!). I have a pack of antigen tests but apparently they are only to be used on people with no symptoms at all.
any suggestions?
Ultimately the hope will be that parents continue to keep their kids at home if they show any symptoms. Thats the line of defense right now. I am just not so sure. We all know that parents regularly send their kids to school sick. Add to that and im still hearing parents going ahead with indoor birthday parties at play centers. The mind boggles.
My kids are vaccinated and we are doing all we can at home still, no friends in our home, activities are all outside. Ill be pretty pissed off to see my kids impacted because of the selfishness of others.
Headlice is a notifiable disease in a school setting. This comes from PH. From the outset PH has been clear that covid is not a notifiable disease in the school setting ie schools were not to inform parents or even staff in the class where there was a case. Procedure was schools were to inform PH of a case and PH would decide what was to be done. Even though contact tracing stopped in schools informing the school community was still not allowed. It is only in the last week or two that it has now changed to IF a parent informs the school re covid then the school can inform the class parents once the child is not identified. It took nearly 2 years of school staff asking why covid was not a notifiable disease , some schools informing class groups anyhow , an increase in infection among primary school children , a sub crises and subsequent media questions re covid in schools to get that much.
A parent in the GAA whatsapp informed us at the weekend, his child had a positive antigen that afternoon and was scheduled for PCR.Good of him to let people know.
Our school sends out headlice alerts saying they have been notified of a case at the Senior or Junior end of the school.Similar could be done for covid but just confined to a class group.Just anonymous; "please be aware that a covid case has been identified in your child's class.Please be vigilant" or similar.Be no harm and easily done.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex tested positive today, caught it from his 11 year old daughter who caught it at school.
Our cub scouts had a positive case who had been at a meeting. They were told by the HSE that they were to do nothing. The advice was (at the time) still that they should be tested if they show symptoms whether they're close contacts.
My own son got it in school. Turns out there was another child with it a few days earlier but noone was told. I don't know if the school were even told. I let the parents of his table mates know.
As for measures like eating in the hall, unfortunately we have 1 hall for 1200 students so that wouldn't work for us. Nor cleaning classrooms during short breaks with one fogger as there are just too many rooms.
But the staff shortages are the biggest problems, both teachers and SNAs.
Ring Norma, she is a teacher and isnt doing anything these days, she should be available, I know she is PP but better than no one 😏
Daughter sent home today as school don't have enough teachers to teach the class. That's the second time now within the week. Situation is getting farcical.
The pincipal in my sons school emeiled us last week to say that two kids in his class tested positive and to be vigilent and to please get our son tested if we notice any symptoms.
Also to please share any positive results with her so she can keep other parents informed without sharing personal information.
Seemed like a sensible way to go about things, why they should not do that is beyond me.
Funny thing is i asked my son who has covid in his class and he rattled out the names!
I don't give a rats ass if its xyz's job to do it, if it needs to happen and it's not then somebody else should step in. As far a GDPR breaches of it's tiny, "a child in you child's class tested positive please be vigilant". Companies do much worse all the time and nothing ever happens to them.
The HSE was involved in that example and they would have a legal basis for doing what they did on the basis of public health. A teacher should not divulge this information especially where they have been told not to and that it is the job of public health. Leaving themselves wide open for a GDPR breach.
We currently are in the middle of an outbreak and we have been told to do nothing. We have been told that we are not allowed to inform parents that Covid is even in the school. That is the job of public health and they have decided that there is no need to act currently.
I work with somebody who had TB, the HSE contacted the company, we meet with them and HR no name was mentioned we all knew who it was, We all had to get tested, sometimes it has to happen and on the scale of things it's 1 out of 10 so get over it get on with it and do it.
If by telling parents it is identifiable which child has Covid then that would be a data protection breach.
Do you have HEPA filters in class yet or are you relying on opening the windows. Noting is stopping you from telling parents of a case, "guide lines" aren't laws and what will they do to you, there is a shortage of teachers, tell the boards of management to back you and do whatever feels right.
Schools went out a message to watch out for kids puking and then testing positive no other symptoms thankfully have you seen that?
I really hope not. It would be a disaster for all involved for schools to close.
Contact tracing needs to come back to schools though. Not in the severe way it was last year but measures need to be brought in for schools experiencing an outbreak. We currently are in the middle of an outbreak and we have been told to do nothing. We have been told that we are not allowed to inform parents that Covid is even in the school. That is the job of public health and they have decided that there is no need to act currently. IMO the following needs to happen at primary:
The measures are not ideal and we would prefer not to have to implement them. Sitting back and doing nothing while Covid rips through the school doesn't seem right either though.
Don't think that will happen, vaccine has reduced incidence of severe illness relative to case numbers. You might see certain sectors have reduced capacity, opening hours again but I don't think schools will close again unless a vaccine-resistant strain emerges which is hopefully unlikely.
Delta so good at spreading other varients not getting a chance so far.
why do you think numbers will drop by much before then? i think we could see full lockdown for a month of january. could this be done every novermeber, december and january from now on?
That won't be happening
I really can't.
i can see schools shut after xmas for a month or 6 weeks
Given the sub shortage and the new requirement to restrict movements if there is a household case they are more than likely getting organised in case a class has to close as opposed to wide-scale school closures ala lockdown.
They have conversations with us, about out children and about school in general. And yes, today they were making sure we were all set up for remote learning and the reasons why it was important to get it set up now.
Why would this be unprofessional? Not like they were discussing the terrible ride they got after coppers...
Wow they greet you at gate & speculate re school closures? Not very professional!
Ours speak to us every day at collection, principal, vice principal and HSLO also have daily interactions with us.
Teachers to parents really? When do teachers get to talk to parents these days? We not allowed near teachers at pick up never mind have a gossipy chat with them!!
Lots of chat about remote learning today in my childrens schools, by teachers to parents
